The Rev. Dr. John Mizuki was born to Kyuhachi and Natsu Mizuki on November 14, 1922, in a small farming community in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. His parents had sailed from Fukuoka, Japan, in 1912, to Brazil, on the Itsukushima Maru, the third ship carrying Japanese immigrants to Brazil. When he completed elementary school, his father told him to stop studying so he could help out on the farm. Later, one of his teachers convinced John's father that John belonged in school. He was able to complete a three-year education in one year by passing an equivalency exam.

At the age of 15 John became a Christian by embracing Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and by 18 he felt a calling to become a minister. Driven by his desire to become a minister as quickly as possible, he went on to enroll in two undergraduate programs, and, in 1949, simultaneously earned his degree in philosophy from the University of São Paulo and his Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Seminary of the Independent Presbyterian Church. He was the first Brazilian Nisei to attend college. In 1950, Rev. Mizuki was appointed to pastor the Free Methodist Church in Lins, in the State of São Paulo, and was ordained in 1951. In 1953, John had the privilege of serving as the personal interpreter for Rev. Toyohiko Kagawa during Kagawa's 3-month tour through Latin America. This led to the opportunity to further his theological education in the United States, making him the first Brazilian Nisei to study abroad. He received two Master of Theology degrees, one from Asbury Theological Seminary (1954) and the other from Princeton Theological Seminary (1955).

In 1954, John met Miyoko Morimoto, when both were working in Chicago during the summer break and attending the Japanese Church of Jesus Christ. Rev. Andrew Oyama, the pastor of the church, officiated their wedding on June 11, 1955. Rev. Mizuki returned to Brazil with his new bride. Once they returned to Brazil, Rev. Mizuki served as the Academic Dean of the Free Methodist Seminary. In 1956, Miyoko gave birth to their first son, Paulo, followed by Estevão in 1958, Ruy in 1960, and their daughter, Priscila, in 1963. He was later appointed to serve as the pastor of the Mirandópolis Free Methodist Church. When the Paulista Annual Conference of the Free Methodist Church was established in 1966, he was elected to be its first superintendent.

In 1967, John moved to the United States with his family, because he wanted to pursue a doctorate degree. He was accepted into the doctoral program of the School of World Mission of Fuller Theological Seminary, graduating in 1977.

Rev. Mizuki pastored the Japanese-language divisions of the Free Methodist churches of Glendale, Mission Valley, Anaheim, Orange Coast, Moreno Valley and Riverside, and served as the superintendent of the Pacific Coast Japanese Conference of the Free Methodist Church from 1985-1988. John served as director of JEC (Japanese Evangelization Center) from 1990 to 2016. He continued to lead a Bible Study group in his home until he was 90 years old.

John and Miyoko are known for their hospitality, often hosting guests from Brazil and Japan, and inviting people for meals. Rev. Mizuki gave thanks to God for his children and grandchildren, and he looked forward to family gatherings to celebrate birthdays (including his own), milestones, special occasions and holidays. He was a man of prayer. He had a generous spirit and a warm, radiant smile. He had a deep desire to introduce people to Jesus, because he wanted them to know Jesus as he did: friend, Lord and Savior. He loved the Lord God with all of his heart, strength, soul and mind; and strived to love his neighbor as himself.

Rev. Mizuki was hospitalized since New Year's Eve and went home to be with his Lord and Savior, surrounded by his family, on February 18, 2017. During his hospitalization, he often thanked family members for their visits and said that they were his treasure and the best medicine.

Rev. Mizuki is survived by his wife, Miyoko; sons, Paul (Rie), Steve (Naomi) and Ruy (Susan), and his daughter, Priscila (John) Stahl; grandchildren, Psalm (Nathan) Haseley, Sarah (fiancé Kyle Wolff), Daniel, Irene, Luke (fiancée Emily Rutherford), James and John; and soon-to-born great-grandson, Josiah Haseley, brother Ioshio Mizuki, and other cousins, nephews and nieces in the United States, Brazil and Japan.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 11, at 10:00 am, at the Anaheim Free Methodist Church., 1001 N. Mayflower Ave., Anaheim, CA.

A Private Burial Service will take place on Monday, March 13, at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.